Pheromone development effect

Decades of experience with attempts to develop insect sex pheromones as effective pest management tools can be instructive as to the possible ways crustacean pheromones might be used. Strong plumes of the correct blend of components... 

Host marking pheromones are important in many species of parasitic hymen-optera, because they ensure that a female parasitoid focuses on non-parasitized hosts. This, in turn, ensures a more effective use of limited host resources. Marking pheromones can be internal (injected into the host at the time of oviposition) or external (applied to the host during inspection and/or ovipo-sition). The internal markers can be detected by sensory hairs on the parasitoid ovipositor [11]. The internal markers often also delay the development of the host. 

Food odors are also important as attractants for traps both on their own or in combination with pheromone lures as synergists or additive attractants. Food odors can be used to improve the capture of species that do not have commercially available pheromone lures, of females that do not respond to traps with sex pheromones, and of immature stages. In a number of situations, pheromones combined with food odor are more attractive then either alone (Landolt and Phillips, 1997 Phillips et al., 1993 Trematerra and Girgenti, 1989). Food odor has an advantage over food bait packs because typically the insect is unable to develop on the chemical fraction containing the attractant in contrast to food bait packs. The effectiveness of food attractants can be diminished in environments that contain other food odors. 

The chapters in this volume examine the state of the art of the development of effective chemical and biological agents, as well as the unique application problems not encountered in conventional agricultural situations. The effectiveness of pesticides or pheromone technology in combating forest pests is not the only determinant. Factors peculiar to the forest situation, including the delicate balance of the ecosystem, must be considered in both the development and application stages of all control tactics. 

---